Solutions that don’t break the bank, reinvent the wheel or marginalize our teachers are within our grasp. We could have rigorous classes, safe and disciplined schools and treat teachers like valued colleagues rather than easily replaceable cogs, and we could do so tomorrow if we wanted. Disclaimer, this is an opinion and commentary site and should not be confused as a news site. Also know that quite often people may disagree with the opinions posted.

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Monday, January 26, 2015

School choice week, really bad or the worst thing ever?

It is school choice week and I think people should know
school choice is a scam. Parents shouldn’t have to pick a “good school to attend”,
just like they shouldn’t have to pick clean water or air, or dependable police
and fire departments. A high quality and
uniform public schools system is a contract its citizens should have with each
other and it is also what the Florida constitution calls for.

School choice is really a euphemism for school privatization
and the people behind the movement hope you don’t notice. In Florida over 270
charter schools have taken money and closed leaving communities in a lurch.
Some job the parents sending kids to those schools did right? Charter schools
are businesses and their primary goal is to make money not to educate our
children.

As for schools that take vouchers we really have no idea how
they are doing because the system is set up that way. Sure some might be great
but there are undoubtedly terrible ones too and rather than weed out the bad
apples the supporters of choice just bang the drum of expansion.

The most maddening thing is public schools do better as a
group than charter schools and voucher schools fight against accountability so
we have no idea how they are doing but our leaders in Tallahassee tell us we
need more of them not less.

Instead of diluting our resources and making charter school and
private school operators rich for doing a substandard job we should invest in
our public school system and make it one we can all be proud of. Choice just
for the sake of choice is a poor choice indeed.